Controlling system for electric lamp-heaters.



No. 685,486. Patented 0ctf29, I901. u. n. POTTER.

CONTROLLING SYSTEM FOR ELEBTRIC LAMP HEAT ERS.

(Application filed Aug. 9, 1899. Renewed Apr. 27, 1900.)

(No Model.

MZ/wsses: He/z/yJ ae/Pa/Zer, [aw/2Z0? A five/mg- UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

HENRY NOEL POTTER, OF GOTTINGEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGEWESTINGHOUSE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROLLINGSYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC LAMP-HEATERS.

SPEGIIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,486, dated October29, 1901. Application filed August 9, 1899. Renewed April 27, 1900,Serial No. 14,599. (No model.)

To aZZ whont it uty concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY NOEL POTTER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, re-

siding in Gottingen, Germany, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Controlling Systems for'Electric Lamp-Heaters, of whichthe following is a specification.

I have described and shown in other applications means for controllingthe movements of lamp-heaters by magnetic or thermostatic devices inseries with the heaierand in shunt to the heater.

My present invention relates to the operation of such a heater by meansof magnetic or thermostatic devices included in a shunt-- circuit to theglower.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing, which is a diagram of the circuits and apparatus employed incarrying out my invention.'

The main conductors are shown at 1 and 2, a glower at 3, and a heatingdevice at 4. 1 The glower is connected up in circuit with a ballastcut-out 5, consisting mainly of a conductor 6, of iron or other suitablematerial, inclosed in a sealed chamber 7, containing an inert gas. Lampsof this class as they are usually constructed require the presence inseries with the glower of some form of restraining resistance'orbalancing device, the resistance of which will increase with incrementsof current flowing, for otherwise the decreasing resistance of theglower under increments of heat would on a constant-potential circuitpermit the passage of an excessive current, and thus destroy the glower.Such a conductor may be appropriatelytermed a ballast conductor. Theconductor 6 is joined by one end to a wire 8, of nickel or platinum,sealed into a disk or arm 9 within the chamber 7. The disk or arm 9 ispreferably of glass and together with a corre-' sponding disk or arm 10at the upper eifd of the chamber holds the parts within the chamber inposition. In the center of the disks 9 and 10 a metallic rod 11 issupported, and to the said rod is pivoted an angular lever 12, one endof which is connected to an end of the ballast-conductor 6. The saidballastconductor serves to hold the farther end of the angular lever 12against the stationary terminal 14:,supported by the disk 9. Anotherstationary terminal 13, supported by the same disk, stands in the pathof movement of the outer end of the angular lever 12 whenever the latteris free to move inward under the influence of a spring 15,'connected tothe disk 10 and to the inner endof the said angular lever. There are,accordingly, two positions for the angular lever 12, one

.being that in which its end is in contact with the stationary terminal13 and the other being that in which it makes contact with thestationary terminal 14. The passage from .one'to the other is made whenthe ballastconductor 6 is expanded by the heat caused by the current inthe glower-circuit, as will appear later on., The stationary terminal 13is connected with the main 2 by a conductor 16, which includes the coilsof a solenoid 17. The stationary terminal 14 is connected to thereturn-circuit through the heater at by a conductor 18. The rod 11 isjoined to'the other main conductor 1 and a conductor 19.-

The solenoid 17 has a core 20, which is connected to the heater land bywhich the move-.-

of the glower 3, which circuit becomes energized after the heater hasmade the said glower conductive. This glower-circuit includes theconductor 19, rod 11, angular lever 12, ballast-conductor 6, conductors8, 21, and

glower 3, and conductors 22 and 16. The described circuit having becomeenergized, the ballast-conductor 6 becomes heated, and under theexpansion resulting from such heat theangular lever 12 is released intothe power of the spring 15, whereby the heater-circuit is broken at thepoint 14 and a new circuit is made between the angular lever 12 and thecontact-terminal 13. In this waya shunt-circuit of the glower is formed,which circuit includes the solenoid 17. In the diagram this circuit isrepresented as in operative condition or as having acted to lift theheater out of proximity to the glower.

The spring shown at 23 is designed to counterbalance in part the Weightof the core and the heater 4 and may be replaced by a weight or othersuitable device.

In the diagram illustrating my invention the magnetic controlling devicefor the heater is located in a shunt to the glower. For the magneticcontrolling device I may substitute a thermostatic device adapted toexercise the same control over the position of the heater. It is notnecessary to use the particular form of cut-out illustrated in thediagram. I may dispense with the ballast cut-out and make use of amagnetic cut-out. I may also employ a double-movement heater, suchas Ihave shown and described in another application for Letters Patent.

I make no claim herein to the ballast device shown and described, sincethis constitutes the subject-matter of another pending application,Serial No. 726,617, filed August 9, 1899.

I claim as my invention 1. In an electric lighting device, thecombination of a glower of the type described, an electric heatertherefor, a controller fordetermining the position of the heater locatedin a shunt-circuit around the glower, means for closing saidshunt-circuit when the glower is in operation and opening the circuitwhen the glower is not in operation.

2. In an electric-lighting device, the combination of a glower of thetype described, a heater therefor, the said glowerand heaterbeinglocated in parallel circuits an automatic controlling device for theheater located in shunt to the glower and means for closing the circuitof the controlling device by the influence of currents traversing theglower and opening the circuit of the heating device before the closingof the circuit of the automatic controlling device.

3. In an electric-lighting device, a glower of the type described, anelectric heater therefor, and a ballast-conductor in series with theglower, in combination with an automatic controlling device for the saidheater located in a shunt to the glower.

4c. In an electric-lighting device, a glower of the type described, anelectric heater therefor connected to the core of a solenoid, incombination with the coils of said solenoid located in shunt around theglower, and a thermostatic circuitcontrolling device controlling thecircuit connections of the heater and of the shunt-circuit and foropening one of the said circuits before closing the other, substantiallyas described.

Signed by me at Hanover, Germany, this 14th day of July, 1899.

HENRY NOEL POTTER.

\Vitnesses:

W. K. ANDERSON, KIRKE LATHROP.

